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Egyptian army takes over security ahead of vote
The Egyptian military assumed joint responsibility with the police today for security and protecting state institutions until the results of a December 15 constitutional referendum are announced.The army took up the task in line with a decree issued Sunday by President Mohammed Morsi. The Islamist leader on Monday also suspended a series of tax hikes announced the previous day on alcohol, cigarettes and other items. The presidential edict orders the military and police to jointly maintain security in the run-up to Saturday's vote on the disputed charter, which was hurriedly approved last month by a panel dominated by the president's Islamist allies despite a boycott of the committee's liberal, secular and Christian members. The decree also grants the military the right to arrest civilians, but presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said it was nowhere near a declaration of martial law. "It is merely a measure to extend legal cover for the armed forces while they are used to maintain security," Ali told The Associated Press. There were no signs of a beefed up military presence outside the presidential palace, the site of fierce street clashes last week, or elsewhere in the capital on Monday. Posted by: tipper 2012-12-10 |
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